SNOW HILL — It appears more Greene County employees prefer Pepsi products or no soda at all than Coke.

But the board of commissioners voted for an exclusive contract with Coca Cola Bottling Co. at its last regular meeting.

However, Minges Bottling Group, at first unresponsive, has put its offer forward.

County Manager Richard Hicks explained that the vending machines were contributing to the county’s electrical bill — $700 to $1,000 a machine per year — but both vendors made full profits on the soda sales and don’t pay for the space.

“Basically, you’ve allowed Coke and Pepsi to sell Coke and Pepsi products in the county office building,” he said, “and the county gets no benefit from it.”

Coke proposed paying the county 20 percent of an exclusive contract or 15 percent if Pepsi is also sold in the county buildings.

Representatives from Pepsi did not respond to the county’s phone calls, so the board voted to go solely with Coke. But Chairman Bennie Heath made a request.

“I would ask you to give Pepsi one more chance,” he told the board, “because we’ve got some employees that are not going to be happy about this. But if they don’t respond, then cut them off.”

On Tuesday, a representative did show up and said he would bring a proposal to Hicks on Thursday morning.

On Thursday, the representative said Pepsi will pay the county 20 percent with no conditions attached.

Hicks then called Coca Cola and asked if they would match Pepsi, and they agreed.

Both will switch from cans to 20-ounce bottles at $1.25 each, providing the county 19 cents per bottle.

Hicks said the only exception to having both Pepsi and Coke would be the Recreation Park because the county has a 10-year exclusive contract with Pepsi, which provided the scoreboards for the ball fields.

The board will likely rescind its vote at its June 23 meeting.

In the meantime, a number of employees were polled on Wednesday to see which of the two soft drinks they prefer.

The county manager’s office building has both a Pepsi and Coke machine, and Lisa Johnson, the administrative assistant, said she prefers Coke.

“Pepsi is just too sweet to me,” she said.

Rachael Thornton, a supervisor in the Department of Social Services, said she drinks Pepsi. Her reason?

“It’s born in the Carolinas, baby,” she said.

Shelby Avent, a tax clerk, said she prefers Coke, but drinks Pepsi because it’s cheaper.